What's Hot and Trending in Bollywood

Scoops & News

Jaspal Bhatti dies in road mishap

October 25, 2012 08:10:18 PM ISTBy IBNS, Glamsham Editorial

JASPAL BHATTI

Actor and political satirist Jaspal Bhatti, who had Indian idiot box viewers in splits during the 1990s with his shows like 'Flop Show' and 'Ulta Pulta', died on Thursday in a road accident. He was 57.

The mishap occurred when Bhatti was on way to Jalandhar from Bhatinda along with son Jasraj and actress Suril Gautam for promotion of his new film POWER CUT.

His car hit a tree and a trawler and he succumbed to his injuries in the hospital where he was rushed. His son and the actress were also wounded in the accident but they survived.

The film POWER CUT, where he also acted besides being its producer, was slated for release on Friday.

Bhatti is survived by his wife, daughter and the son who also sustained injury.

Jaspal Singh Bhatti was a prominent face in Indian television during the 1980s and 1990s with its satirist shows.

His TV series 'Flop Show' and mini capsules 'Ulta Pulta' that were run on Doordarshan were hugely popular.

Born on March 3, 1955 at Amritsar in a Rajput Sikh family, he was an electrical engineer after graduating from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh. But his real interest lay in showbiz and satire.

He was a cartoonist for the Tribune newspaper in Chandigarh.

His 'Flop Show' series in the early 1990s was produced by wife 'Savita Bhatti' who also acted in all the episodes as his wife.

He later came up with TV series 'Ulta Pulta' and Nonsense Private Limited for the Doordarshan. Bhatti would spoof every day issues and his subtle humour entertained audience as much as it raised awareness about issues.

Jaspal Bhatti's satire on the Punjab police MAHAUL THEEK HAI (1999) was his first directorial venture for a full-length feature film in his native Punjabi language. He played the role of Jolly Good Singh, a guard, in the movie FANAA. He played a comical college principal in KOI MERE DIL SE POOCHHE. He also starred in the comedy Punjabi film JIJAJI.

Bhatti appeared in SAB TV's 'Comedy ka King Kaun' as a judge. In his latest stint, Bhatti and his wife Savita competed in a popular Star Plus show 'Nach Baliye' which went on air in October 2008.

He also later acted in Bollywood movies.

In his later years, Jaspal Bhatti set up a training school and a studio in Mohali near Chandigarh called "Joke Factory".

He also launched a new 52-episode comedy series titled 'Thank You Jijaji' on Sony's family entertainment channel, SAB TV.

He would spoof inflation and corruption and bureaucracy and attitudes of government officials.